‘The Travel Brief’, the weekly Head for Points travel trade newsletter

Welcome to The Travel Brief, your weekly trade round-up of UK business travel and travel loyalty news as well as the latest reviews and features from the Head for Points team.

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British Airways Club is here:

British Airways Club is here – what do you need to know?

BA has extended status for some (not all) expecting a mid-year drop

‘Earn BA tier points by buying SAF credits’ is now live but not recommended

The latest UK business travel news:

London City Airport gears up for larger aircraft – we see the first E195-E2 land

easyJet’s CEO confirms loyalty scheme plans as we visit the new Southend base

Escape lounge at East Midlands Airport reopens with a new look

Air India is planning a Heathrow lounge

British Airways changes its boarding groups

Virgin Atlantic drops flights to St Lucia

Gatwick airport completes the roll-out of new security scanners

Hilton announces huge Wembley and FA deal – FA Cup finals tickets now biddable

IHG’s voco Lythe Hill hotel in administration

British Airways launches a rare 40% off Avios sale to Salerno on the Amalfi Coast, image above

Virgin Atlantic launches a £250 Amex cashback deal

Get £75 cashback with a new IHG and American Express hotel promotion

Stories we recommend from other sites:

British Airways resumes flights to Kuala Lumpur (Business Traveller)

Luton Airport expansion plans approved by Transport Secretary (Luton Today)

Custom House set to get new lease of life under hotel plans (Boutique Hotelier)

Grand Central obtains network extension (Business Traveller)

Flights get underway at Jet2’s 13th UK base, Luton (UK Aviation News)

European members’ club takes over Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch (Boutique Hotelier)

Our latest reviews:

We visit the new No1 Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 2, accessible with Priority Pass and DragonPass (or even cash!). How does it compare to Plaza Premium? Image above.

The latest UK travel loyalty news:

How to link British Airways Club and Loganair Loyalty accounts to earn and redeem Avios

STILL ON: Get a 50% discount and improved bonus terms on the Hilton Debit Card

Get a 50% bonus on Accor transfers to Club Eurostar – it’s surprisingly decent

You can convert Avios INTO Accor Live Limitless hotel points – but should you?

ENDS TUESDAY: Get 60,000 or 120,000 points with Amex Business Gold or Platinum – & no bonus rules

American Express has brought back the biggest sign-up bonus ever seen in the UK for a payment card. The offer ends tomorrow (Tuesday).

This 120,000 Membership Rewards points deal on Business Platinum, which closes on Tuesday 8th April 2025, matches the biggest we’ve ever seen. If you only sign up for one payment card mileage promotion all year, this should be it (assuming you have a small business, buy to let etc).

There is also a 60,000 points option on ‘free for a year’ American Express Business Gold.

All restrictions on receiving a sign-up bonus have been removed as long as you hit the spending target. If your application is successful and you spend the required sum, you qualify for the bonus. Full stop.

American Express Business Platinum now offers up to 120,000 Membership Rewards points. You receive 80,000 points when you spend £12,000 within three months and a further 40,000 points when you make a single transaction between Month 14 and Month 17.

American Express Business Gold – which is free for your first year – now offers up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points. You receive 40,000 points when you spend £6,000 within three months and a further 20,000 points when you make a single transaction between Month 14 and Month 17.

To find out more, read this article which runs through the deals in detail.

You can apply for Business Platinum here.

You can apply for Business Gold (first year free) here.

Head for Points receives a commission if you apply via our links – thank you.

Thank you for reading

Please drop me a note at rob@headforpoints.com with any feedback.

If you are booking a hotel this week, click here to read our summary of the best bonus points offers for April from the big chains.

See you next Monday,

Rob, Rhys, Sinead and Katie @ Head for Points

PS. If you were forwarded ‘The Travel Brief’ by a colleague, you can sign up for a free email subscription by filling in the form here.